Skating rink headed for fall debut despite delays

Year-round use of $6.7M City Hall Plaza is planned

By ADAM ZANGARI
Posted 12/31/24

Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi’s envisioned downtown Apponaug centerpiece will probably not have to wait another winter before skaters hit it.

City Hall Plaza, the ice rink and park being …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Skating rink headed for fall debut despite delays

Year-round use of $6.7M City Hall Plaza is planned

Posted

Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi’s envisioned downtown Apponaug centerpiece will probably not have to wait another winter before skaters hit it.

City Hall Plaza, the ice rink and park being built on the site of the former City Hall Annex, is on pace to open in the fall, according to Chief of Staff Bill Facente.

“It can and will be used throughout the entire year,” Facente said. “In the spring, summer – warmer months – it can be used for other public events. The mayor’s looking at doing something similar to what they do in Providence, with roller skating in the summer months and other kinds of activities that keep that facility generating interest and revenue throughout the year, like little concerts and food-truck events.”

Next to the rink will be a small park with public seating intended to create a green area in the middle of the busy village.

“It’s basically going to be a long area, just places to hang out and enjoy nature, and [will serve to] complement the ice rink,” Facente said.

The project was funded mostly by a $5-million federal grant secured by Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse; Facente noted that no city tax dollars have been used for the project. The rink’s naming rights have been bought by Greenwood Credit Union for $300,000.

Though the construction timeline has been short, two major hang-ups have hindered the project so far. First was a dispute over bidding on the project, as Bentley Builders LLC sued to stop the city from awarding the rink contract to Tower Construction, arguing that it and not Tower was in fact the low bidder. After rebidding, Bentley eventually won the rebid with a $6.7-million bid.

The second wrinkle was the discovery of contaminated soils on the site, which paused the rink’s construction in October. The soils were contaminated due to four buried fuel tanks on the site.

The tainted soil was the city’s biggest concern about the rink’s construction, Facente said.

“That was the biggest hurdle and the biggest unknown,” he said. “Whenever you’re digging in ground that was used, that was developed, you never know what you’re going to find.”

At its Dec. 16 meeting, the City Council approved a bid to remove the soil, with only minimal delays to the overall project expected. Picozzi had said at the rink’s groundbreaking in May that he expected construction to take 12-14 months.

The promise of the plaza, Facente said, is already piquing the interest of multiple businesses considering the area.

“We’re hearing from some interested parties on some of the vacant properties in the Apponaug area because of the developments,” Facente said. “It’s both a passive and active recreational opportunity for people that we don’t currently have in the village, and will help people to come and enjoy all of the things that Apponaug has to offer.”

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here